You may not realize it, but your home’s powder room has made a lot of impressions over the years. From your neighbors who just stopped by for a visit to your son’s soccer friend, your bathroom has seen it all. If you are remodeling your home, do not forget to update your powder room. The powder room is one of the main places your guests will see; therefore, it is essential to make it look nice. To help you transform your space, we have some useful tips for updating your powder room. Let’s take a look!

How to Update Your Powder Room Like a Pro:

Have a Special Feature.

Whether you decide on doing an entire wall in glass tile or hanging an extravagant chandelier, we recommend having a special feature in your bathroom. Since the space is so much smaller than other rooms, you want to take advantage of every square inch. If several special features are within your budget, by all means, add as many as you can afford! You can buy luxurious appliances, a gorgeous mirror, an amazing light fixture, etc. Just make sure you stick to a budget because things can add up quickly.

Think Function.

Make sure you consider the main necessities before you move on from your powder room remodel. It would be a bummer to find out after your mini-remodel that the powder room has no power outlets for you to use. Make a list of things you use every day in your master bathroom and see if any of those items need to be added into your powder bathroom.

Get The Air Flowing.

Make sure your air is moving properly to avoid unwanted odors and others issues in the future. If possible, consider adding a window into the space. A window can transform a space by adding beautiful natural light while adding a breath of fresh air.

Stackable Storage.

Since you do not have a lot of space to work with, you may find it useful to incorporate storage that goes up your wall. Vertical storage can work well in spaces that do not offer a lot of wiggle room. You can also buy a storage shelf that sits over your toilet for extra space or you can add some open shelves for decorative pieces. The best part about powder rooms is that they do not take a whole lot of work because they are small and simple.

Finish off your powder room with new flooring from Century Tile. At an affordable rate, we can help you find your dream floors without breaking the bank. Stop in today to learn more or visit our online showroom for our beautiful selection. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

Open floor plans are in demand for today’s active lifestyle. It can be challenging to create the cohesive design to anchor all spaces when there are no walls. Area rugs are a perfect solution for tying everything together by establishing the purpose and function of the room. Here are some helpful tips for choosing an area rug:

• Matching Rugs – The easiest and safest technique is using matching rugs. Matching rugs are conservative, classic and almost fool proof! This choice works well when furniture settings serve the same purpose. If your style is more playful than conservative, try using matching rugs with a bold design and color.

• Mix Solid Color Rugs – If you want to be a little daring, try combining mix-matched solid color rugs. Just make sure the colors complement each other. One easy way to bring some drama in to the room is by using one rug that is a neutral tone, and a colored rug. Using solid color mix-matched rugs is a creative way to distinguish between furniture settings with different functions.

• Similar Color Palette – Try mixing two solid rugs in different colors in the same room. Make sure that you choose rugs in a similar color palette. If you want to add some punch to the design, try using a patterned rug with similar color palette to the solid rug. This will define the spaces as unique from each other, but not disconnected.

• Textured Rugs – Combining textured rugs adds a special design touch to any room. A natural jute rug is a perfect example of a neutral color palette, not to mention the many textures they offer. Raw hide rugs can be included in your design which offers various patterns, color, and they mingle well with neutral colored rugs. This technique defines spaces as unique, but not disconnected.

When shopping for area rugs, do not forget to measure everything in the room and keep your measurements with you. Make a small portfolio to include paint chips, fabric swatches and flooring samples. It never hurts to take a few pictures or a short video of the room, so you can visualize the proposed design of the room.

Have you ever wondered about the decor of Buckingham palace? Did you know that some rooms have a Chinese decor? Seven generations of British Monarchs have lived on the grounds of Buckingham Palace up to the present reign, the House of Windsor.Buckingham Palace is very ornately decorated, to say the least.

What Are Some of the Decor Changes Made at Buckingham Palace Throughout History?

In 1762 the eccentric and extravagant son of King George the Third redid the decor of the building, both inside and outside.

In the 1830’s, Queen Adelaide under the reign of William the Fourth, designed the first of the grand State Apartments. It is known as the Green Drawing Room. She hired Irish people to produce and apply the green tabinet fabric which adorns the walls. Tabinet is often made of wool and poplin, or cotton type material and is very durable and strong. The fine porcelain in the Green Drawing Room was placed by George the Fourth.

In 1837 Queen Victoria had to add some more rooms for her family. She added the east Front in 1847, and moved the Marble Arch entry way of the palace to it’s present position. Queen Victoria was always busy adding her taste to the palace’s decor. She is the one whom aligned the regal gilded framed portraits by the grand entry and massive main stair well.

Queen Victoria’s successor, Edward the Seventh, put electric lighting in the palace, along with other modern conveniences which were all the rage in that day.

What Is the Grand Entry Like at Buckingham Palace?

When you first walk into Buckingham Palace, you will go in at the Grand Hall. It has beautiful walls painted in ivory. There are many gilded tapestry wall coverings and impressive marble columns. There are two marble staircases that lead up to the State Apartments. State rooms were used to entertain and lodge aristocratic guests. There is also a very ornate stairway, a grand stairway, with a balustrades made of bronze. The balustrades are the spindles that hold the railings, so this is a very lavish decor indeed. It would be nearly impossible to tell you of all of the beautiful rooms and sights when it comes to the decor of Buckingham Palace.

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of our business partner and co-founder, Paul Spiewak Sr. on December 24th. He was beloved and an integral part of our business success and growth over the years and will be missed. He is survived by his wife Dorothy and four children – Paul Spiewak Jr. Kathleen Boyle, Debbie Beyer & Phillip Spiewak as well as numerous grand-children & great-grand children.

Paul partnered with Frank Parks Sr. in 1947 to start Century Tile & Supply Company. Over the years, both grew the business from a little store on Austin Avenue in Chicago to twelve locations covering the Chicago-land area and becoming one of the largest floor covering retailers & distributors in the Mid-West.

Paul’s guidance and enthusiasm will be sorely missed and we are all thankful for opportunity that we had to work and learn from him.

It’s fall, which means there are some unpleasant chores that need to be accomplished – namely raking leaves and cleaning out the gutters. Get your kids to deal with the leaves and handle the gutters yourself as it involves climbing up and down a ladder.

Why do we need to clean out the gutters? Leaves and other debris can build up in the gutters, clogging the downspouts. This can lead to water damage on your roof. Water pouring over the gutters can end up leaking inside your home and into your foundation.

Clean your gutters while standing firmly on a ladder. Use one bucket for gutter debris and one for tools. Use wire hooks to attach each bucket to the ladder. Clean large debris with a trowel first. Using a hose flush the gutter starting at the opposite end of the downspout. If the water doesn’t drain, check the downspout to see if it is clogged and clean as necessary.

If there is still any standing water in the gutter after it has been flushed it may not be sloped correctly. Do not ignore this problem. If the gutter doesn’t slope enough, detach the hangers and adjust the gutter to drain properly and then reattach. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, call a professional.

This is also the time to inspect gutter sections for damage and missing parts, repair any gutter leaks and apply gutter touch up paint. You may even want to repaint all of the gutters.

While cleaning out the gutters does take some time and elbow grease, it is necessary for the health of your home.

You know what dust is made out of, where it comes from and how many times a month you need to dust to keep your home healthy and looking its best. But what are the best tools for getting rid of dust?

Start first with your vacuum. You can use your vacuum to dust your walls, ceilings and baseboards. One downside – if you don’t have a HEPA filter on your vacuum you may end up spewing dust back in the air.

A feather duster is another good tool. Use a feather duster to dust bookshelves without having to move everything off. Just be careful to replace your feather duster if any of the feathers break, as this may cause scratching of surfaces.

A lambs wool duster is also good at getting in small and irregular spaces. This tool tends to stir up less dust than a feather duster, but you do have to make sure to wash it periodically.

Microfiber cloths do a great job of dusting without stirring up dust. The cloths can hold quite a bit of dust and won’t scratch your furniture. They are not great, however, for dusting up high or for dusting irregular surfaces.

Electrostatic cloths are another option. They won’t stir up dust and come in disposable options so that no cleaning in-between dusting is needed. They vary in lengths and sizes and some even come with poles so you can dust up high. The main con to electrostatic dust cloths is that they are more expensive as they are not reusable.

Should you use oils or polishes? Oils and polishes can enhance the look of your wood furniture and they will help with dusting fine surfaces, however, overuse or improper use can cause buildup or cause clouding of your furniture.

Compressed air is the best way to dust electronics. It is also great to use for surfaces where cloths may snag or in small spaces where tools aren’t practical.

We’ve been proudly serving Chicagoland since 1947 and we want to celebrate! Starting Saturday, October 19th, 2013 to October 28th, we are celebrating 66 years as Chicagoland’s flooring expert with a special Anniversary Sale! For a very limited time, we’re offering our best discounts to customers like you. Join us as we celebrate our 66th Anniversary and take advantage of:

$66 Whole House Carpet Installation: Buy one room, two rooms or an entire house of brand new carpet and the installation in only $66! We have a variety of carpet choices like berbers, textures, friezes, patterns and so much more!

Two big trends in home design merge in this house: kitchen islands and open floor plans. The kitchen opens onto a larger room that a more formal dining area, anchored by a beautiful focal wall featuring large windows. Having the same wood floors flow throughout the space makes the two spaces feel cohesive, which it is. One of the key features of this space is the open feeling created by the floor plan and ceiling height. Having the range on the kitchen island lets the chef take full advantage of the view. In an open concept space, venting the range with an exhaust hood is key to contain and minimize cooking odors throughout the room.

When ranges are placed on kitchen islands, there are two options for venting the range. One is to have the exhaust vent come up out of the counter as needed. The other is to have a four sided range hood that floats above the range. This kitchen has the second option. A stainless steel exhaust hood is a popular choice in kitchens whether it is wall mounted or an island hood.

For an open concept kitchens like this, the island becomes the focal point of the kitchen space. Placing the range on the island is a good way for the chef to be able to engage with family at the counter or guests in the living room. Rather than having their back to the room, the chef can watch the action and join the conversation.

Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this blog before but after looking at a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Regardless, I’m definitely pleased I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!